decorative card holders

These are the containers I ended up making using my tutorial below. The recipients of my gift of cards were thrilled. It is so nice to know that ppl appreciate hand made gifts and they just loved the cards that I gave to them as gifts. One woman said that she valued all the hand crafted gifts I had given in the past, she said it meant more than anything you could find in a store.

How nice is that?!

These are three of the containers that I gave out. I'm glad they liked them, I hope the other recipients enjoyed them just as much.

Merry Christmas!

I got this new rubber on Wednesday. I haven't had a chance to put ink to it until today.
I think the color pallete is especially cool, totally unexpected too, by me especially!
I actually built my card around the flower, literally.I stamped my flower in bravo burgandy and garden green. Then I colored in cameo coral and green galore. From there I got the rest of the card.
I decided I really wanted to accentuate my flower, so I used a templet and cut out an oval. Then I used my complimentary color of ruby red to mount my flower and use the coral over it with the oval cut out. Then I decided I wanted to use some of the green as an accent. I didn't really care for the garden green, so I opted for green galore.
I thought the green was a wee bit bright so I decided to tone it down with basic grey. I actually wanted to put a ribbon around the complete flower panel, but I mounted it and forgot the ribbon, so I got some ribbon, tied a bow and used a glue dot to secure it.
I really wanted to add the sentiment to the front of the card, something I seldom due, so I stamped it in burgandy and was going to mount it on burgandy, but didn't like the look against the grey, so I changed it to the ruby red.
Once I secured that I really liked the look of the card but felt it was a bit empty at the bottom. I was going to use eyelets but saw these brads that matched perfectly.
What do you think?
tfl

Stationary holder

I thought of this stationary holder idea after giving gifts of cards to my teachers from school. I had put the cards in a stationary holder, but it closed like a book, and the teachers didn't understand that there was something inside the holder. I had to tell them. So I thought to myself, how can I make a holder for cards that will reveal what is inside of them. With that, I came up with this box.

I used the premises from the previous holder and modified it to what I wanted.

I used an 8-1/2 by 8-1/2 piece of cardstock.

I scored on 8 inches, 7 inches, 1-1/2 inches and 1/2 inch

Then turned the cardstock and scored at 2-1/2 and 3-1/2

What You need to do after you make your first fold at 2-1/2 you need to cut.

Then you cut the other side in the same location at the fold.

From there you cut up an inch to the next fold on the fold that will become your side and front panel.

Then you take the small piece and adhere it to the flap that will get attached to what will be your bottom. Now you have half a box formed.

Then fold up your flap and adhere your side panel and back panels with tacky strip.

When you are done, you have a great box

Sorry this post is so crazy, but it took me forever just to upload the pictures and get them in correct order.

Have a nice night.

I just made this really pretty card for the OOOC sketch challenge. After going to SCS to upload it, there is no category to upload for them. I just hope people get to see this card. I put a lot of effort into and tried to pop the colors of the dsp. Maybe someday my talent will be recognized.

I'm not an "in the box thinker", I'm an outside of the box thinker. I try to do things differently so I don't blend into the crowd. some people may think I'm wierd or have strange taste in how I make my cards, but I know I have creative talent. I have always been creative. I just never honed my creativity until I learned about stamping. I truly believe that this is where I really shine.

Have a great day!

Monochromatic Christmas

Today is known as "Black Friday" I didn't even want to go out, but I ran out of tape runner to make cards, so I figured I would go and get some tape and a few other things I needed. I guess I had good timing because I was in and out of Walmart in about 20-30 minutes, including parking!

Since I was in Milford, I called my good friend Dawn, and fellow stamper if she wanted to hang out. So I stopped over her house, we watched the soaps then proceeded to go to her stamp area and make a card. We each made only 1 card. It took us about an hour and a half to make one card each! OMG what a task!

I borrowed all her stuff, except the tape, lol. I used always artichoke as my base, then mellow moss. She had the "Weathered" bg stamp so I used that in artichoke. Love it! Think I will have to buy this stamp! Then I mounted my image on handsome hunter and stamped in black. I used blender pens for the red, and regular markers for the kids. I used her luminare for Santa's hat, and beard/mustache.

My big issue what the stupid ribbon! Omg!!! It took me 20 minutes to tie the ribbon! Can you believe it!!! 20 minutes to tie a ribbon! riddiculous I know, but I just couldn't get it to sit right. I was so frustrated. But I finally ended up making it so it worked. I think it is like an olive color.

I really like the way this card turned out. tfl!!!

I love this card. For an off the top of my head card using a black and white checkered dress as an inspiration, I feel I captured the essence of classiness.

Take a striped bg stamp lay it on way using black ink on the stamp, then taking the same stamp turning it the other way, re-ink it and stamp again. Layer it on black. Add another stamp in black, add black ribbon and black brads and you have a beautifully classic card that can be used for a man or a woman!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is my first blog, on this newly created blog of mine. It is Thanksgiving Day, I'm watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and drinking my coffee and blogging!

I started this blog because there are sometimes when I just want to tell my stamping lady friends what is going on in my life.

This is a much needed day off for me. I go to school full time to become a medical assistant. It is not somethign I planned for in my life, but after two elbow surgeries and a hand surgery, I knew I could never go back to having to use my arms all day. I was an office manager that worked about 50-60 hrs a week and was on the computer almost all day long. My arms are shot.

When I first went out of work is when I discovered stamping. I was so bored, and I just bought some stamps so I thought I would try to make some cards by myself. I fell in love with the craft. I have always been a crafty lady, but I never really found the one thing that I could really express my creativity until now! I just love making cards! I have so many, I have no idea what to do with them all, lol! I started going to craft fairs. I made about $70 this year over the price of the tables. I guess the economy is just so bad no one wants to buy. Last year I made $120 so I was a little disappointed. Oh well.

I think I am rambling here. I don't know. All I know is, even though I enjoy my peace and quiet, I miss my son. He is with his father. I got divorced in August and it has been quite the task getting acclamated to the changes of single life. I didn't know I had so much yard upkeep!!! LOL! I hired a friend to help me because I just couldn't do it with my arms and all. Of course, I had to pay him to help me as he did do some manual labor for me. Money, money, money! How can we live without it!!! lol

Gee, I am rambling. I guess I have more to say than I initially thought. So maybe this will be another stress reliever for me, well, when I have the time. It is nice to relax. Ok, I think I will leave more for another day.

For now, have a great thanksgiving, and stamp on!!!!